A Research On The Jurisdiction Of Underwater Cultural Heritage In The International Seabed Area

United Nations Educational,Scientific and Cultural Organization held a GeneralConference of protection of underwater cultural heritage in2001.It makes the entirecommunity’s attention shifts to the ocean.Through the conference,it made the 《Conventionon the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage》.As an important achievement of howto protect the underwater cultural heritage,it is of great significance to protect the underwatercultural heritage.However,steal and salvage activities are prevail in international seabed areaat present.and the legal provisions of this area are vague.It makes such activities morerampant and increases the trouble of recovering the looted relics.Currently,the controversiesof looted relics between China and other countries have been continuously. As the main powerof underwater cultural heritage,China should pay more attention to the international legalmechanisms of protection of the underwater cultural heritage.The paper start the study fromthe Spanish wreck cases which was sentenced by the11Circuit Court of US Appeals Court onSeptember21,2011. On this basis i combine the question of jurisdiction of underwater culturalheritage in the international seabed area with the current international treaties,internationalconventions and relevant foreign legislation,and put forward some suggestions for our countryabout how to recover the looted relics and strengthen the jurisdiction of underwater culturalheritage in the international seabed area.